"

"No, indeed, I like to be alone."

"I thought I did. Most everyone has seemed a crowd to me. I'm glad
you've never given me that feeling. Well, goodbye till you see me
driving up with the geraniums."

Chapter XXV.

A Charivari

The eastern horizon was aglow with rosy tints the following morning
when Holcroft awoke; the stars were but just fading from the sky and
the birds were still silent. He knew by these signs that it was very
early and that he could carry out his plan of a timely start to town.
Dressing very quietly, he stole downstairs, shoes in hand, lest his
tread should awaken Alida. The kitchen door leading into the hall was
closed. Lifting the latch carefully, he found the lamp burning, the
breakfast table set, and the kettle humming over a good fire. "This is
her work, but where is she?" he queried in much surprise.

The outer door was ajar; he noiselessly crossed the room, and looking
out, he saw her. She had been to the well for a pail of water, but had
set it down and was watching the swiftly brightening east. She was so
still and her face so white in the faint radiance that he had an odd,
uncanny impression. No woman that he had ever known would stop that
way to look at the dawn. He could see nothing so peculiar in it as to
attract such fixed attention. "Alida," he asked, "what do you see?"

She started slightly and turned to take up the pail; but he had already
sprung down the steps and relieved her of the burden.

"Could anything be more lovely than those changing tints? It seems to
me I could have stood there an hour," she said quietly.

"You are not walking or doing all this in your sleep, are you?" he
asked, laughing, yet regarding her curiously. "You looked as you stood
there like what people call a--what's that big word?"

"I'm not a somnambulist and never was, to my knowledge. You'll find
I'm wide enough awake to have a good breakfast soon."

"But I didn't expect you to get up so early. I didn't wish it."

"It's too late now," she said pleasantly, "so I hope you won't find
fault with me for doing what I wanted to do."

"Did you mean to be up and have breakfast when I told you last night?"

"Yes. Of course I didn't let you know for you would have said I
mustn't, and then I couldn't. It isn't good for people to get up so
early and do as much as you had on your mind without eating. Now you
won't be any the worse for it."

"I certainly ought to be the better fo